British Columbians have less faith in the Mounties than the rest of the country in terms of leadership, communication, accountability and public complaints investigations, a poll conducted on behalf of the RCMP in June 2010 shows.

Only 56 per cent of B.C. respondents in the survey said the RCMP is an accountable organization. Nationally, the police force fared better, with 78 per cent of respondents saying the force is accountable.

The force's leaders received a low level of support in B.C. as well, with only 54 per cent of British Columbians polled agreeing with the statement, "The RCMP has strong, reliable leaders." Nationally, 69 per cent agreed, while 14 per cent disagreed and 17 per cent said neither.

Another area where the RCMP did not receive high marks was regarding the investigation of public complaints.

Only 57 per cent of British Columbians surveyed agreed with the statement, "The RCMP investigates public complaints appropriately and with transparency," while nationally, 70 per cent of respondents agreed.

In terms of communicating openly with Canadians, less than half of British Columbians gave the RCMP a positive response.

In response to the statement, "The RCMP provides Canadians with adequate information about its work," 43 per cent agreed, while an equal number disagreed. In response to the statement, "The RCMP communicates openly to Canadians," only 48 per cent of British Columbians agreed.

Seventy-three per cent of British Columbians said they have trust and confidence in the RCMP, while across the country, an average of 84 per cent of respondents said they agree with the statement, "I have trust and confidence in the RCMP."

For nearly all of the questions, B.C.'s positive responses were the lowest in the country, with the exception of Yukon, which consistently showed the poorest responses.

Last year, The Sun reported that between 2006 and 2009, the share of B.C. residents who felt the RCMP demonstrated professionalism dropped from 94 per cent to 74 per cent. For 2010 the drop continued, with positive responses to this statement falling to 69 per cent. Between 2006 and 2009, those with confidence in the force's integrity and honesty went from 91 per cent to 69 per cent. For 2010, this question was divided into two parts, but stayed at about the same level; those who said the force is an organization with integrity numbered 70 per cent, while those who said RCMP personnel are honest was 69 per cent.

A number of high-profile events in B.C. appear to have undermined public confidence in the RCMP beginning when Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski was Tasered by RCMP members and died in 2007. One of the police officers present when Dziekanski died, Cpl. Benjamin (Monty) Robinson, 41, is accused of obstruction of justice after being involved in a 2008 accident in Delta that killed motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson, 21. Robinson has been ordered to stand trial and he will next appear in court on May 19.

Earlier this month, a Prince George RCMP officer used a Taser on an 11-year-old boy, who allegedly stabbed a 37-year-old man. The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP is investigating while the West Vancouver police department conducts a separate criminal investigation.

Despite low numbers of trust and concerns about accountability, communication and complaint investigation, British Columbians are still mostly satisfied with the work of the Mounties.

Fully 96 per cent of B.C. respondents agreed with the statement, "The RCMP's services are important for Canada," and 82 per cent said they were satisfied with the RCMP's contribution to ensuring safe homes and safe communities for Canadians.

The RCMP's 2010 public survey, conducted in mid-June 2010, involved a random sample of nearly 6,000 people, including about 400 from B.C. The force has been conducting public opinion surveys since 2003 to get feedback about the job they are doing. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.3 percentage points 19 times out of 20 nationwide and plus or minus 4.9 percentage points 19 times out of 20 in B.C.

Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, a senior media relations officer with RCMP's E Division, said it is vitally important for police to retain the public's trust.

"Public trust and support is essential for the police to do their jobs effectively, so it's important for us to continue working hard to earn, build and maintain that trust on every shift and with every interaction we have with the public," he said.

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